Roger slipped and fell and came down with such a jar that a
great icicle weighing at least twenty pounds came down close to his
head, smashing into many pieces and scattering over both him and Dave.

"Hi! look out!" cried Dave. "If we got one of those on our heads----"

His voice echoed loudly throughout the cave, and then down came two more
icicles, one hitting his shoulder. He was thoroughly alarmed and leaped
to a spot beyond, literally dragging Roger with him.

"That was a close shave!" murmured the senator's son. "Dave, this spot
is full of perils!"

On they went once more, until Dave was almost certain he saw some sort
of an opening ahead of them. He pointed it out; and just then the tiny
light of the pocket lantern began to flicker.

"Dave, the light is going out!"

"I know it."

"Can't you turn it up a bit?"

"No; the oil is gone," was the answer, after Dave had shaken the lantern
to make certain of that fact.

"What will we do if we are left in the dark?"

"Hurry; I think we can reach that opening--if it is an opening."

They ran, and as they did so the lantern flickered up for the last time
and went out. Then Dave stopped short and Roger clung to him.

"Don't stop here, Dave!"

"I won't--but we must go slow, or we'll knock our heads on a rock or on
the icicles."

They advanced with all the caution they could command. Each was filled
with a nameless dread, for if there was no opening ahead what should
they do? To go back the way they had come was next to impossible in the
dark. A dozen steps, and both went down in a hollow, Roger rolling on
top of his chum. The spot was like a huge washbowl, and all of the sides
were covered with ice. They tried to scramble out, only to slip back
over and over again.

"This is the limit!" cried Roger, desperately.

"If we---- Oh, wait!" He felt in his pocket.

"Hurrah!"

"What is it?"

"I've got five matches. I'm going to light one."

"Make it last as long as possible," was Dave's advice.

The match was ignited and the boys gazed around the hollow. Dave found
some bits of projecting rocks and pulled himself up, and Roger came
behind, the match burning itself out in the meanwhile. Then they pushed
on, until they presently came to an opening through which the snow came
down.

"Out at last!" murmured Dave. "I am thankful for that!"

"We have reached the open air, but we are not out of our difficulty,"
returned the senator's son. "I can't see anything